USE OF PRONOUNS

PRONOUNS ARE OF FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES.

USE OF PRONOUNS

 ACTIVE PRONOUN
PASSIVE PRONOUN
POSSESSIVE PRONOUN
REFLEXIVE PRONOUN

PRONOUN CHART
ACTIVE

PASSIVE

POSSESSI REFLEXIVE

VE
I
WE
YOU
HE
SHE
THEY
ONE
THOU

ME
US
YOU
HIM
HER
THEM
ONE
THEE

MY/MINE
OUR
YOUR
HIS
HER
THEIR
ONES
THY/THINE

EXAMPLES

MYSELF
OURSELVES
YOURSELF
HIMSELF
HERSELF
THEMSELVES
ONESELF
THYSELF

 One should take care of his personal

matters. (incorrect)
One should take care of ones personal
matters. (correct)
They tried to help us with our own way.
(incorrect)
They tried to help us with their own way.
(correct)

USE OF PRONOUN
IN ONE SENTENCE WE HAVE ONE ACTIVE
PRONOUN OR THE SUBJECT AND OWN
PASSIVE PRONOUN OR THE OBJECT. IN
NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES TWO SUBJECTS
OR TWO OBJECTS CAN NOT BE USED.

EXAMPLES
You showed a lot of sympathy to he and I.
(incorrect)
You showed a lot of sympathy to him and me.
(correct)
You and me can complete this project easily.
(incorrect)
You and I can complete this project easily. (correct)
The flowers were plucked by they from the garden.
(incorrect)
The flowers were plucked by them from the garden.
(correct)

USE OF PRONOUNS
IN COMPARATIVE STATEMENTS BOTH THE
SUBJECT AND OBJECT ARE IN ACTIVE
STATE.

EXAMPLES
You are stronger and more skilled than him.
(incorrect)
You are stronger and more skilled than he is.
(correct)
Their musical system is more powerful and
more effective than us. (incorrect)

 Their musical system is more powerful and

more effective than our system. (correct)
(Comparison should also be logical.)

USE OF PRONOUNS
We always use passive pronouns with let.
Let you and I find a new plan to get a good
result. (incorrect)
Let you and me find a new plan to get a
good result. (correct)

 Let we be given another chance. (incorrect)

Let us be given another chance. (correct)

PLACEMENT OF THE SINGULAR

PRONOUNS
In a sentence with positive ideas and good
intentions we always follow the formula, 2nd person,
3rd person and 1st person. e.g.
You, he and i were showing good result. (correct)

 He, you and i can tackle this situation quite easily.

(incorrect)
You, he and i can tackle this situation quite easily.
(correct)

PLACEMENT OF THE SINGULAR

PRONOUNS

 In case of two pronouns coming together the

following arrangements are used:
You and I.
You and he.
He and I.
I and you have done the work with dedication and
honesty. (incorrect)
You and I have done the work with dedication and
honesty. (correct)

PLACEMENT OF THE SINGULAR

PRONOUNS

 In a sentence with negative ideas and bad

intentions we always follow the formula, 1st person,
3rd person and 2nd person. e.g.
You, he and I were arrested by the police on the
charges of fraud and deception. (incorrect)
I, he and you were arrested by the police on the
charges of fraud and deception. (correct)

USE OF PRONOUN

USE EITHER OR NEITHER TO REFER TO ONE

OR TO THE OTHER OF TWO; ANY OR NONE
REFER TO ONE MORE THAN TWO.

USE OF NOUNS
NOUNS CAN COME IN ACTIVE AND PASSIVE
POSITIONS.

EXAMPLES
I met any of the two boys. (incorrect)
I met either of the two boys. (correct)
Neither of the five boys can do it properly.
(incorrect)
None of the five boys can do it properly.
(correct)

USE OF PRONOUNS
The following indefinite pronouns are
always singular:
ANYBODY, ANYONE, EACH, EVERY,
NOBODY, EVERYONE, ANYTHING,
SOMEBODY, EITHER, NEITHER, ONE,
OTHER.

EXAMPLES
Neither of them did their homework.
(incorrect)
Neither of them did his homework. (correct)
Nobody have paid attention to his work.
(incorrect)
Nobody has paid attention to his work.
(correct)

USE OF PRONOUNS
A PRONOUN PRECEDING A GERUND, OR
SHOWING POSSESSION IS ITS POSSESSIVE
CASE.
I like him reading poems at important
ceremonies. (incorrect)

 I like his reading poems at important

ceremonies. (correct)
Fancy them deceiving us so early.
(incorrect)
Fancy their deceiving us so early.(correct)

USE OF PRONOUNS
Inanimate objects and abstract ideas, when
personified, are used in masculine gender if

they symbolize strength, cruelty, or

abhorrence, feminine if they symbolize
beauty, delicacy, elegance and charm.

EXAMPLES
The sun was shedding her rays with power and
intensity. (incorrect)
The sun was shedding his rays with power and
intensity. (correct)

 The storm destroys its victims with speed and

energy. (incorrect)
The storm destroys his victims with speed and
energy. (correct)
Beauty has his own appeal and charm for the
human eye. (incorrect)
Beauty has her own appeal and charm for the
human eye. (correct)

USE OF PRONOUNS

 Following verbs take reflexive pronouns

after them:
AVAIL, ACQUIT, APPLY, ABSENT, AVENGE,
ENJOY, BETAKE, EXERT, OVERREACH,
RESIGN.

EXAMPLES

 You should avail of the chance. (incorrect)

You should avail yourself of the chance.
(correct)
He applied to work with sincerity and honesty.
(incorrect)
He applied himself to work with sincerity and
honesty. (correct)
They absented from college deliberately.
(incorrect)
They absented themselves from college
deliberately. (correct)

USE OF PRONOUNS
Dont use reflexive pronouns after these
verbs:
BATHE, BURST, DRAW, ENLIST, FEED,
FORM, HIDE, KEEP, MAKE, MOVE, OPEN,
QUALIFY, REST, ROLL, SET, STOP.

EXAMPLES
We bathe ourselves every morning to remain
fresh and alert. (incorrect)
We bathe every morning to remain fresh and
alert. (correct)
Let them make themselves merry in the party.
(incorrect)
Let them make merry in the party. (correct)

CORRECT THE FOLLOWING

I, you and he went there to attend the
meeting.
Everybody must not waste their time in trivial
things.
The moon has his beauty to charm and inspire
humans.

 He stopped himself from moving in the wrong

direction.
Whom do you think stood first in the
examination this year?